Tulsa’s Williams, San Antonio’s McBride, And Los Angeles’ Lavender Named Injury Replacements For Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2015


NEW YORK, July 23, 2015 – Guards Riquna Williams of the Tulsa Shock and Kayla McBride of the San Antonio Stars, along with center Jantel Lavender of the Los Angeles Sparks, have been named by WNBA President Laurel J. Richie to replace three injured players in Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2015 on Saturday, July 25 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Williams, McBride, and Lavender will all be making their WNBA All-Star debuts, filling the spots on the Western Conference roster vacated by Minnesota Lynx guards Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen and Tulsa Shock guard Skylar Diggins. Augustus, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury, and Diggins, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on June 28, had been selected as starters by fans during WNBA All-Star Balloting 2015 presented by Boost Mobile. Whalen, who was poked in the eye during a game at Tulsa on July 19, was picked as a reserve by the Western Conference head coaches.

Western Conference All-Star head coach Sandy Brondello of the Phoenix Mercury will determine the replacements for Augustus and Diggins in the starting lineup.

Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2015, featuring the Eastern Conference All-Stars against the Western Conference All-Stars, will be nationally televised by ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET. Individual tickets start at $16 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, by dialing 800-745-3000 or by visiting the Mohegan Sun Box Office.

Williams, a member of the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2012 and the league’s Sixth Woman of the Year in 2013, owns the WNBA single-game scoring record (51 points at San Antonio on Sept. 8, 2013). Now in her fourth WNBA season, Williams ranks second on the Shock in scoring (14.7 ppg) behind Diggins and shares the team lead in steals (1.6 spg).

McBride, a unanimous selection to the 2014 WNBA All-Rookie Team after being the No. 3 overall pick in WNBA Draft 2014 presented by State Farm, is leading the Stars in scoring (14.0 ppg) for the second consecutive year. She plays alongside point guard and fellow All-Star Danielle Robinson.

Lavender has excelled for the Sparks, starting all 15 games and averaging career highs in scoring (14.9 ppg) and rebounding (9.1 rpg, sixth in the league).

BOOST MOBILE WNBA ALL-STAR 2015 ROSTERS (alphabetical)

EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STARS

Head Coach: Pokey Chatman (Chicago Sky)

Player Team Position Ht. From
Alex Bentley^ Sun Backcourt 5-7 Penn State
Kelsey Bone^ Sun Frontcourt 6-4 Texas A&M
Tamika Catchings* Fever Frontcourt 6-1 Tennessee
Tina Charles* Liberty Frontcourt 6-4 Connecticut
Marissa Coleman^ Fever Backcourt 6-1 Maryland
Elena Delle Donne* Sky Frontcourt 6-5 Delaware
Stefanie Dolson^ Mystics Frontcourt 6-5 Connecticut
Angel McCoughtry* Dream Frontcourt 6-1 Louisville
Emma Meesseman^ Mystics Frontcourt 6-4 Belgium
Cappie Pondexter Sky Backcourt 5-9 Rutgers
Shoni Schimmel Dream Backcourt 5-9 Louisville

 

WESTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STARS

Head Coach: Sandy Brondello (Phoenix Mercury)

Player Team Position Ht. From
Seimone Augustus* Lynx Backcourt 6-0 LSU
Sue Bird Storm Backcourt 5-9 Connecticut
DeWanna Bonner^ Mercury Backcourt 6-4 Auburn
Skylar Diggins* Shock Backcourt 5-9 Notre Dame
Candice Dupree* Mercury Frontcourt 6-2 Temple
Brittney Griner* Mercury Frontcourt 6-8 Baylor
Jantel Lavender** Sparks Frontcourt 6-4 Ohio State
Kayla McBride** Stars Backcourt 5-11 Notre Dame
Maya Moore Lynx Frontcourt 6-0 Connecticut
Nneka Ogwumike Sparks Frontcourt 6-2 Stanford
Plenette Pierson^ Shock Frontcourt 6-2 Texas Tech
Danielle Robinson Stars Backcourt 5-9 Oklahoma
Lindsey Whalen@ Lynx Backcourt 5-9 Minnesota
Riquna Williams** Shock Backccourt 5-7 Miami (Fla.)

 
* denotes starter, as voted by the fans
@ denotes injured/unable to play
^ denotes first-time All-Star selection
** denotes replacement player added to roster by WNBA President Laurel J. Richie

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